Reversible fulcrum



1,613,014 Jan. 4, 1927', c. A. BENZ E-r Ar.

REVERS IBLE -FULCRUM Filed April 23, 192s Patented Jan. 4, 1927.

ttvlll@ S'lfall PATENT QFFEE,

CHARLES A. BENZ AND EBVJN E. VAN CLEAVE, GF CHICAGQILLINOIS.

REVERSIBLE FULCRUM.

Application filed. April 23, 1925. Serial No. 25,357.

rThe present invention relates to revers ible ulcrunis,

More particularly the present f, relates to construction ot revcrsiele rol Crum including a plurality ot parts which are releasably connected together and normally locked in position.

rlhe invention has for one ct its object the provision of a reversible t'ulcrum construction which may be readily assembled and which may be readily locked in posr tion` A further ob]- ect is to provide a reversible fulcrum which will be selfscentering.

A further object is to provide a reversible ulcrum which combines ease kot assembly with sturdiness. y

A further object is to provide a reversible ulcrum which is well adapted to meet the needs ot commercial service.

Further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings- Figure 1 is a view of part o' the onstruction or" a railway car including a reversible fulcrum embodying the principles of the present invention; c

Figure 2 is a view7 partly in section, taken along the plane indicated by the arrows 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by the arrows 3 3 of Figure 2; f

Figure 4c is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by the arrows Ljl-l of Figure 2 Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by the arrows 5-5 of igure 2;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken alongV the plane indicated by the arrows 6-6 of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 but showing the fulcrum post turned through part oi" a revolution to a position occupied in service;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 8 but showing the parts on a larger scale; and

FiOure 9 shows a modified form of the present invention.

The numeral 1 indicates a compression member7 and the numeral 2 indicates a tension member. The numeral 3 indicates a bracket tor cooperation with the fulcrum post et. The bracket 3la though it may be secured to either the compression member 1 G 'tor the reception of a brake lever (not shown). and is alsoV provided with the aperture 7 for the reception of a pivot pin (not shown). The bracket 3 and post 4lhave cooperating interfitting parts permitting relative rotation therebetween, whereby the post may be disposed in the desired angular relationship relative to the compression member 1 and tension member 2.r

rlhe bracket 3 is provided with the base rortion 8 shaped to conform to the surface t the compression member 1. Said bracket is provided with thei conical aperture 9, which aperture 9 leads to the housing 10 having the conical. seat 11. The fulcrurn post l is adapted to it Within the bracket 3 with a connection which may be termed a bayonet connection. ln order to provide this bayonet connection the housing 10 ot the bracket 3 has the shoulders 12-12, which Ashoulders 12-12 are separated by the spaces 155-13. Located within the housing 10 are the two oppositely disposed abutments 141-14, which limit rotary motion ol the post l in a manner which will be referred to hereinafter.

The post t is provided with the tapered end portion 15, which end portion 15 has the head 16 having the conical extremity 17 adapted to center itself upon the conical seat 11 within the housing- 10 ot the bracket 3. Said head 16 is provided with the two outstanding keys or lugs 18-18, which7 as shown in Figure 8., have the tapered Walls 19-*19 adapted to cooperate with the shoulders 12-12 ot the bracket Said keys or lugs 18-18 arc adapted to be moved linto the spaces or keyways lying in rear of the shoulders 12-12.

TWhen the ulcrurn post 4l is inserted within the tapered portion 9 of the bracket 3 the outstanding keys or lugs 1.818 o1 said tulcrum post will, of course. be positioned to pass through the recesses 13-13 between the shoulders 12-12 of the bracket 3. When said lugs 18-18 are located within the housing` 10 of the bracket 3 said post 4l Will be rotated through part of a` revolution. The tapered faces 1.9-19 of the lugs 184-18 will, by reason of their engagement with the shoulders 12-42, force the conical extremity of the ulcrum post et into centering relationship with the conical seat 1i of the bracket 3. The abutments 11i-14E will limit rotation of the fulcrum post 4. ln service a rotary movement of the ulcrum post et of about 40 degrees in each direction will be permitted.

According to the structure shown in Figure 9, the extremity of the post et bears directly against the compression member l. Though the construct-ion shown in said tigure omits the conical seat 16 provided by the bracket 3, said construction has the advantage that the dimension of the bracket in a direction normal to the length oit' the compression member l may be less than in the structure shown in the other igures of the drawing.

The present invention presents the advantage that the reversible ulcrum may be readily mounted in place, and when turned to operative posit-ion will be securely locked in place by reason of the bayonet connection provided between the bracket 3 and the extremity oit the iulcrum post 4l.

Though certain preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it will be clear that many inodilications will occur to those skilled in the art. lt is intended to cover all such modifications that all within the scope of the appended claims.

That is claimed is:

l. In brake beam construction, the combination oit a compression member, a tension member, a bracket secured to one of said members, and a ulcrum post positioned between said bracket and the other o said members, said bracket and said ulcrum posthaving cooperating keys and keyways torining a bayonet connection, said keys and keyways including tapered portions for drawing said post into said bracket and wedging said post into tight engagement with said bracket when said post is turned to move said keys into said keyways.

2. In brake beam construction, the combination ot a' compression member, a tension member. a bracket secured to one of said members, and a iulcrum post positioned between said bracket and the other ot said members, said bracket and said :tulcrum post having cooperating keys and keyways 'tormine' a bayonet connection, said keys and keyways including tapered portions for drawing said post into said bracket and wedging said post into tight engagement with said bracket when said post is turned to move said keys into said keyways, said bracket and post having cooperating conical portions for centering said post in said bracket.

in brake beam construction, in combination, a bracket, a ilulcrum post, said bracket and ulcrum post being provided with keys and kevways tor forming a bayonet connection, said keys and keywa-ys having tapered portions :tor forcing said post into said bracket when said bayonet connection is made.

4. In brake beam construction, in combination, a bracket, a ffulcrum. post, said bracket and ulcrum post being provided with keys and keyways for forming a bayonet connection, said keys and keyways having tapered portions for forcing said post into said bracket when said bayonet connecttion is made, said bracket and post havingY cooperating conical portions adapted to center said post relative to said bracket when said post is drawninto said bracket.

5. ln brake beam construction, in combination, a ulcrum post, a bracket tor receiving one end o1C said post, and supporting members for said bracket and post, said bracket and post having interiitting keys and keyways forming a bayonet connection, said bracket and post having cooperating tapered portions and having conical bea-ring surfaces, said tapered portions and conical bearing surlaces being so positioned that engagement between said tapered portions torming the said bayonet connection will torce said conical surfaces into bearing engagement. K

Signed at Chicago, illinois, this 21st day of April, 1925.

CHARLES A. BENZ. EDWN E. VAN CLEAVE. 

